Common Horse Diseases and Other Problems

For all those who love horses, this is the blog for you. Of Course it’s obviously useful to know the symptoms of sick horses. You may save a horse’s life still in first grade. (This is not exactly meant for first graders!)

COLIC

Symptoms

• • Biting or kicking flank or belly

• • Not going to the bathroom

• • Or passing dry or mucus covered poop

• • Poop smaller than usual

• • Poor appetite 

• • Keep on looking at their side

• • Lying down

• • Rolling

• • Dullness

Colic is often caused by some kind of muscles in the “gut” contracting. It can also be caused by an upset or serious twisting of the intestine.

If this horse is not thrashing about, start walking. (Not just yourself, you and your horse). MAKE it WALK! Make it walk for about five to ten minutes then put it back into its stall. And as I’m guessing you already knew, the first step was to call the veterinarian. Offer water. To avoid dehydration make sure your horse has plenty of water. Watch the horse carefully to take note of what it is doing. This may come in handy when the veterinarian asks you questions. Make sure to note the changes in their behavior.

BROKEN BONES

For this is a very sad part of this blog, I will make it as short as possible. Most horses who break bones are in too much pain. Unlike humans, breaking bones is a huge deal in the world of horses. Most people put the horses to sleep because they do not want to cause too much pain. This is the most “reasonable” answer to this problem. The end! Man, that was a sad paragraph…..

EQUINE INFLUENZA

You may have heard your parents call the bad cold you have “influenza”. But what they really meant is the flu. I know, right? There’re medical words for everything!

Symptoms

• • Dry cough

• • Discharge

• • Lameness

• • Lack of appetite

Equine Influenza is caused by something called orthomyxovirus. A viral respiratory disease. This disease can be caught through contact with another horse or infected clothes, and etc.

I repeat the first thing you should do is tell your trainer/veterinarian. (If you have one that is.) Or tell your trainer to tell the veterinarian. (If you have one that is.) The recovery may take about six weeks. I wish you luck!

EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA VIRUS

Symptoms: Some horses may not show any symptoms 

• • Weight loss

• • Decreased appetite

• • Weakness

• • Lameness

Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIA) is caused by blood feeding flies or unclean veterinary equipment such as needles or syringes. It can also be by blood transfusions. Some flies that may cause this include deer and horse flies.

CURES….. There is no cure…… Most horses that have this stay contagious for the rest of their lives.